“Uncle Chris?” he said with a note of feeble enquiry in his voice.

“Major Selby is my uncle.”

“Are you sure?” said Mr Pilkington. “I mean …”

Not being able to ascertain, after a moment’s self-examination, what he did mean, he relapsed into silence.

“Whatever are you doing here?” asked Uncle Chris.

“I’ve been having tea with Mr Pilkington.”

“But … but why Mr Pilkington?”

“Well, he invited me.”

“But how do you know him?”

“We met at the theatre.”